No. 251.
Mr. Chang Ten
Hoon to Mr. Bayard.
Chinese
Legation,
Washington, February 16,
1888. (Received February 21.)
Sir: It is with great regret that I have to
bring to your attention another case of outrage inflicted upon my
countrymen, which resulted in the murder of ten Chinese laborers in the
most horrible manner.
The consul-general at the port of San Francisco has reported to me that
he received a joint petition dated the 18th of July, 1887, from
Chea-Tsze ke, Chea-Fook, Kong-shü, and Kong Chun, natives of the
district of Punyu, Chinese subjects, who represent that at the beginning
of the ninth month, the Chinese twelfth year of Kwong Su (October,
1886), their clansmen named Cheapo, CheaSun, Chea-Yow, Chea-Shun, Chea
Cheong, Chea Ling, Chea Chow, Chea Lin Chung, Kong Mun Kow, and Kong
Ngan, respectively, went to Log Cabin Bar, Snake River, State of Oregon,
in a boat loaded with provisions, accompanied by another boat manned be
Lee She and others, for the purpose of seeking for gold; that they had
been pursuing their avocation peaceably until the beginning of the
intercalary fourth month (the latter part of May and the greater part of
June, 1887), when they were suddenly murdered by some unknown persons;
that when Lee She and his party came out of the bar in their boat they
found three bodies of Chea-po’s party floating down the river and some
provisions and bedding lying profusely at the entrance of the bar, and
upon a search being made further found Chea-po’s boat stranded on some
rocks in the bar, with holes in the bottom, bearing indications of
having been chopped with an axe, and its tie-rope cut and drifting in
the water; that Mr. J. Vincent, commissioner of Nez Percés County,
Idaho, visited the scene of the murder, and on examining the three
bodies found a number of wounds inflicted by an ax and bullets; that the
bodies of the others that had been murdered have not yet been found;
that in the fourth month, last year (the latter part of April and the
greater part of May, 1887), a person named Jackson told a Chinese named
Hung Ah Yee that he had witnessed some cowboys, eight in numb, forcibly
driving Kong Shu
[Page 384]
and his party
out of the bar in their boat and throwing their provisions and bedding
overboard; that Kong Shu and his party fled from them, being afraid to
offer any resistance; and that since he had learned of the murder of
Cbea-po and nine others he came to the conclusion that the cowboys had
committed the crime; that they, the petitioners, reported the case with
all its circumstances to the authorities in Lewis-ton, Idaho, and a copy
of which report and of the statement of the examination made of the
bodies they have submitted to the consul-general for his perusal,
praying that he may communicate with the local authorities on the
subject, so that due justice may be obtained by having the murderers
pursued, arrested, and punished.
The consul-general states that Log Cabin Bar is in the Snake River; that,
after he had learned of the murder through the press dispatches, he
immediately asked the Sam Yup Company to depute a Chinese interpreter,
by name Lee Loi, who lived near the bar, to attend to the case, and on
the 14th of July, 1887, wrote a letter to Mr. J. K. Vincent,
commissioner of the county, requesting him to investigate the matter;
that Mr. Vincent in his reply informed him that white men were the
murderers, as some of the provision “flour” left at the bar he had
traced directly to them, and that white man had told a Chinese at his
camp some very curious stories, and that some circumstances looked very
suspicious. He (the consul-general) is therefore fully convinced that
the murderers must be white men (Americans), and further says that the
commissioner promised to write again to him if he should thereafter have
secured more definite information regarding the stolen property; but
several months have elapsed and he has not heard from him again, though
he (the consul-general) has repeatedly written to him. He (the
consul-general) has offered a reward for the apprehension of the
murderers, and has ordered Chea Tsze Ke and Lee Loi to make inquiries,
but they have not yet discovered the names of the murderers.
The consul-general finds that there are very few Chinese in the
neighborhood of the bar, which is far from San Francisco, and that it
would not be easy for the police of that place to make their
investigation; and that, as the commissioner has assured him that the
murderers were white men, he has sent me copies of the correspondence
and all documents connected with the matter, begging me to communicate
with you thereon, to the end that the local authorities may be
communicated with, so that justice may be secured by having the
murderers arrested and punished, and that the Chinese during their
sojourn here may be protected.
As the character of this case, wherein ten lives were murdered and their
bodies mutilated in a most shocking manner and thrown away, as will be
seen by Commissioner Vincent’s report, differs greatly from a common
case of homicide, it is feared other wicked persons may, from their
hatred of the Chinese, follow the examples of the murderers if they are
not arrested and punished, which will affect the interest and safety of
the Chinese resident there and elsewhere in the United States; I have,
therefore, sent you the inclosed copies of the correspondence and
documents connected in the case, hoping that you will kindly communicate
with the local authorities, and urge that the murderers may be speedily
apprehended and punished, to serve as a warning to others.
Accept, etc.
[Page 385]
[Inclosure 1.]
Messrs Tsan and
Bee to Mr. Vincent
Chinese Consulate-General,
San Francisco, Cal.
July 14, 1887.
Dear Sir: Referring to this case-of the
Chinese subjects recently murdered on Snake River, this consulate is
desirous of obtaining further information.
We beg therefore to ask your good offices in giving us such
information as you have in regard to the outrage. If not in your
province to do so, will you kindly refer this letter to any one who
can enlighten us further than what we have seen in the press
dispatches, which merely announced the finding of the bodies of
several Chinese in the river?
We have the honor, etc.,
- Liang Ting Tsan,
Consul-General.
- F. A. Bee,
Consul.
[Inclosure 2.]
Mr. Vincent to
Messrs. Tsan and Bee.
Sirs: Your communication of July 14, 1887,
just received, and in answer would say that about June 14 the
coroner of this county was called upon to hold an inquest upon a
body up Snake River. On his return he stated that he was a Chinaman
shot in the back and body, chopped in the head with an ax. Three
days after news came from Perewawa, 40 miles below Lewiston, that
another body had been found there, shot in the breast and head
chopped. About the same time a Chinese boat, manned by ten men, came
down Snake River and reported the supposed killing of a boat crew of
ten, as they were all missing from their camps. Words were
immediately sent below, and in a few days Lee Loi, agent of the Sam
Yup Company, arrived here. Upon his arrival I had a talk with him;
at his request I went with him down Snake River to Log Cabin Bar,
there we found another body, shot in the back twice, head and left
arm off; made inquiries about others and found one had been seen
badly chopped in the head, but he was not taken from the river. We
brought the body to Lewiston and buried it here.
Since that time I have been in Lee Loi’s employ, have been up Snake
River above where the murder was committed. Water so high impossible
to find out what was done. Since have made a trip to Salmon River,
from which I returned yesterday. To-day I had a little talk with a
Chinaman who saw provisions on bar after men were gone.
I have been and am still in the employ of the Chinese company,
ferreting out the matter. From what I have so far found things seem
to show that white men were the murderers, as some of the provision
“flour” I have traced directly to them. I have been following up,
for six days, a white man who was at their camp and one who is the
last one known to have been there. He has told some very curious
stories about the matter, and some circumstances look very
suspicious. But there is in that vicinity some twenty or thirty bad
men and I was watched very closely for nine days. I expect to start
again up Snake River on the east side and will get into their camp
by some means and know what has been done with their property, if
the agent here thinks best. It was the most cold-blooded, cowardly
treachery I have ever heard tell of on this coast, and I am a
“49er;” every one was shot, cut up, and stripped and thrown in the
river. It happened about 120 miles above Lewiston, in Oregon,
The Chinese here have paid me for what I have done so far, but
Government ought to take it in hand, for with actions like this none
are safe. I shall continue to work for them endeavoring to trace the
matter as long as they may wish me to, and if you should wish me to
report what I may discover to you, or if you, as consul should wish
any work done in the case, I should be very glad to do it for
yon.
Respectfully, yours,
J. K.
Vincent,
United States
Commissioner.
[Page 386]
[Inclosure 3.]
Judicial proceedings in reference to murder of
Chinese in Idaho.
In justice court of Lewiston precinct, in and for
the county of Nez Perces, Territory of Idaho. The People of the
United States for Territory of Idaho, plaintiffs, vs. John Doe,
Richard Doe, etc., defendants.
Lee Loi, first being duly sworn, complains and accuses Richard Doe,
John Doe, and others, names unknown, of the crime of murder by
feloniously, wilfully and with malice aforethought cut with an axe,
shot with a gun or pistol loaded with powder and ball, which they,
the said Richard Roe, John Roe, and others, names unknown, did hold
in their hands, kill and murder ten Chiuamen, belonging to what is
known as the Sam Yup Company. Said murders having been committed on
Snake River, in the State of Oregon, Wallowa County, about 120 miles
from Lewiston, Nez Perce County, Idaho Territory, on or about May
25, 1887, to the best of his knowledge and belief.
All of which is contrary to the form of statutes and against the
peace and dignity of the people of the United States, and he hereby
prays that they, the said Doe, Roe, and others may be arrested and
dealt with according to law. Subscribed and sworn to before me this
18th day of June, 1887.
J. K. Vincent,
Justice of Peace of Nez Perce County, I.
T.
Lewiston, July 8, 1887.
This is to certify to whom it may concern, that I have by
instructions from Lee Loi, an agent of the Sam Yup Company, have
found the following description of murdered Chinamen whose bodies
have been found. One on Snake River, above Lewiston near Lime Kiln,
found by Mr. Lewis, description: About 5 feet 6 inches high, 4 very
large teeth, 2 above standing out, 2 below standing out and down. He
had on clothes; a leather belt around his waist; shot in the back
just below right shoulder blade, two cuts in back of head, one on
each side, done with an ax; found about June 16.
One at Perrewawa Bar, about 40 miles below Lewiston; found about the
same time. No clothes; shot in breast just below heart; head very
much cut and chopped.
One on Log Cabin Bar, found June 23, on Snake River, 30 miles below
Lewiston; about 5 feet 7 or 8 inches tall; had on clothes and boots;
two shot wounds in small of back near backbone; head off, as though
chopped; left arm off between elbow and shoulder, both arm and head
in coat which was fastened to his body, held there by belt around
his waist. He was lodged in large drift pile when found; some
recognized him as Ah Yow.
J. K. Vincent,
Justice of Perce County, and United States
Commissioner.
warrant of arrest.
Territory of Idaho, County of Nez Perce:
In the justice or the United States commissioner
court of said county. The people of the United States in the
Territory of Idaho to the sheriff of Nez Perce County:
A complaint upon oath having been this day laid before me by Lee Loi
that the crime of murder has been committed, and accusiug John Doe
and Richard Doe and others thereof, you are therefore commanded
forthwith to arrest the above-named John Doe and Richard Doe and
others, and bring them before me forthwith at the justice court-room
in said county and Territory, to be dealt with according to law, or
in case of my absence or inability to act, before the nearest or
most accessible magistrate in the county.
In testimony whereof I, J. K. Vincent,
have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said court at
Lewiston, this 18th day of June, A. D.
1887.
J. K. Vincent,
Justice of the Peace for Nez Perce County,
I. T.,
and United States
Commissioner.
